Moderator

Toronto Community Housing today announced plans for the second phase of Regent Park's revitalization, including the selection of The Daniels Corporation as developer and construction partner for phase two and all future phases. Plans for phase two feature the key elements of a great Toronto neighbourhood: market condominiums and affordable housing, indoor and outdoor community facilities and a broad range of retail services. Architects confirmed for phase two include Quadrangle Architects Ltd., Wallman Architects, Diamond and Schmitt Architects and Hariri Pontarini Architects.

Joined by Mayor David Miller, Councillor Pam McConnell, MPP George Smitherman and The Daniels Corporation President Mitchell Cohen, Toronto Community Housing made the announcement at the OneCole presentation centre, where the first condominium of the Regent Park revitalization will be launched for sale this spring.

Mayor Miller announced plans for a new community centre located beside Nelson Mandela Park School. The new community centre will provide improved and expanded recreation programs as well as a central hub for employment and enterprise services. Public consultations and building design are expected to start in 2009.

The first two phases, which include a range of high-rise, mid-rise and grade-related buildings, will combine to cover 30 acres of the revitalization, with pedestrian-friendly streets reconnecting Regent Park with surrounding neighbourhoods.

Phase two will include state-of-the-art facilities for residents, community groups, and neighbours, including an aquatic centre and strong retail frontage on Dundas Street East. Final design will also begin on a large central park located between Dundas Street East and Oak Street, bound by Sackville Street to the west and Sumach Street to the east with construction slated for 2010.

Phase two also includes the new Regent Park Children and Youth Hub, a family-oriented facility that will house Parents for Better Beginnings, Regent Park Focus and the Regent Park Daycare. Construction of the hub will begin this May 2009.

Regent Park residents helped shape the phase two plan through a consultation process that began in fall 2008. The community will soon learn more about the new rental buildings and timelines through community meetings and newsletters. When it comes time for tenants to move, they will receive no less than five months notice and they will have the opportunity to choose from different options for a relocation unit.

QUOTES

"The City of Toronto is transforming a key area of our downtown in partnership with Toronto Community Housing and we are pleased with the addition of a new community centre as part of Regent Park's historic revitalization," said Mayor David Miller. "This project is a shining example of how Torontonians can make our city more livable and prosperous when we work together."

"As I've watched new buildings rise from the ground all around us, it is very clear to me that this important community project has the momentum it needs to succeed. With our first tenants returning in a matter of weeks, and OneCole about to go on the market, now is the time to focus on the social infrastructure critical to Regent Park. I am extremely proud that the new community centre, the aquatic centre, and the children's hub will be completed in Phase 2 to meet this need," said Coun. Pam McConnell.

"Reaching this stage of the Regent Park revitalization has been the result of the passion, dedication, and vision of the local community," said George Smitherman, MPP for Toronto Centre. "Through the many innovative partnerships that have brought this project to life, the neighbourhood will serve as a world-leading model for sustainability and community integration."

"We are one step closer to our goal of creating a great Toronto neighbourhood that breathes new life into Regent Park," said David Mitchell, Chair, Toronto Community Housing. "The Daniels Corporation has been a true partner as the developer and construction partner for phase one of the revitalization, and their continued involvement is a testament to their commitment to a renewed Regent Park community, woven back into the fabric of our city. We have a strong foundation to provide quality housing and a vibrant, sustainable community for current and future residents of Regent Park."

"The Daniels Corporation is committed to advancing the revitalization of Regent Park and we are excited to be a part of the process for the long term," said Mitchell Cohen, President, The Daniels Corporation. "Initiatives of this scale and importance are only possible when government works hand in hand with the private sector to achieve a common goal. We look forward to continuing to work with Toronto Community Housing and The City of Toronto to bring this incredible transformation to fruition."

QUICK FACTS

Regent Park Revitalization is a six-phase, 15-year, $1-billion strategy that will transform Canada's largest publicly funded community into a healthier mixed residential community for 12,500 people in 5,115 units. The first Regent Park tenants move into their new homes in May 2009.

Phase one of the revitalization will include approximately 640 market condominiums and 340 mixed social housing units in the area bordered by Parliament, Oak, Sackville and Dundas Streets.

The Daniels Corporation is the developer/partner with Toronto Community Housing for all phases of the revitalization. Daniels oversees the design of the new buildings, will build all the buildings and will also sell the market condominiums.

Phase one includes a mix of commercial tenants such as Sobeys, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Tim Hortons and Rogers Communications.

The revitalized Regent Park will be a green community. Lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy savings will be achieved by constructing buildings that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Regent Park Energy Inc. will operate a district energy system that delivers high efficiency heating and cooling to all buildings in Regent Park.

380 households from phase one - about 1,160 residents - were relocated. All residents who are relocated to make way for demolition and construction have the right to return once new buildings are completed. All moving and related costs are paid by Toronto Community Housing.

Construction on phase one began in 2006. The first new rental buildings will be ready for occupancy this spring and summer, and OneCole, the first condominium, will be ready for move-in this fall.

Regent Park residents helped shape the phase two plan through a consultation process that began in fall 2008.

The community will soon learn more about the phase two rental buildings and timelines through community meetings and newsletters.

When it comes time for phase two tenants to move, they will receive no less than five months notice and they will have the opportunity to choose from different options for a relocation unit.

Senior Member

Last summer, Toronto Community Housing officials began moving Regent Park residents out of six buildings north of Dundas Street between Parliament and Sackville Streets -- the area slated for the first phase of demolition. Here's what's planned for the rest of Regent Park after teardown of the Phase 1 buildings begins:

This fall: New construction begins on the cleared land with the Architects Alliance building, a 22-storey tower that will house seniors and contain the high-efficiency heating plant that will eventually service the entire Regent Park redevelopment.
2008: Demolition begins on Phase 2, the area north of Dundas between Sumach and River Streets. New construction is expected to be complete and the buildings ready for occupancy in mid-2010.
2010: Phase 3 demolition (the southeast corner of Regent Park, bounded by Shuter, Dundas and River Streets), with occupancy expected in mid-2012.
2012: Phase 4 demolition (the south-central section, bounded by Shuter and Dundas Streets), with occupancy in mid-2014.
2014: Phase 5 demolition (the centre block and the northeast corner, south of Gerrard between Sumach and River Streets), with occupancy in mid-2016.
2016: Phase 6 demolition (the northwest corner, south of Gerrard between Parliament and Sumach Streets), with occupancy in mid-2018.
The estimated time to complete the entire project ranges from 12 to 15 years. The finished project will include 5,933 units, including 2,083 rent geared-to-income units, 700 "affordable rental" units, 2850 market-rent units and 300 privately owned homes.

Moderator

This fall: New construction begins on the cleared land with the Architects Alliance building, a 22-storey tower that will house seniors and contain the high-efficiency heating plant that will eventually service the entire Regent Park redevelopment.

Senior Member

If one of the goals is mixed use; the third leg of the stool should be office/commercial. It may be hard to attact conventional commercial tenants for an office complex, so why not move some government offices into Regent Park?

Senior Member

Or, in the vein of 'revitalization,' give cheap rent to new companies who might otherwise be working out of private basements etc. Local companies would be given preference, of course, especially those run by Regent's Park tenants.

Active Member

If one of the goals is mixed use; the third leg of the stool should be office/commercial. It may be hard to attact conventional commercial tenants for an office complex, so why not move some government offices into Regent Park?

Senior Member

Canada And Ontario Partner To Build New Arts And Cultural Centre
December 16, 2009

Investment will create local jobs, stimulate the economy and contribute to the revitalization of Regent Park

TORONTO, ONTARIO - A new 68,000 square foot arts and cultural centre will be built in Toronto's Regent Park, as a result of a joint Canada-Ontario investment announced today by the Honourable John Baird, Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister, and the Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture for Ontario, on behalf of the Honourable Gerry Phillips, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for Ontario. The project will create jobs in the short term and benefit the community of Regent Park for years to come.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government has announced hundreds of infrastructure projects throughout Toronto that will stimulate the economy and create jobs," said Minister Baird. "Regent Park's new arts and cultural centre will be an important part of this community once complete, and is among many remarkable projects in Toronto we are proud to be investing in."

"The McGuinty Government understands the tremendous impact of arts and cultural initiatives on communities and neighbourhoods," said Minister Carroll. "We are therefore investing in the Regent Park Arts and Cultural Centre which will impact the neighbourhood and Toronto in a wonderfully positive way."

The Governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $12 million towards the project. The contribution from the Government of Canada will be under the new $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to construction-ready infrastructure projects that can be substantially completed by March 2011. The contribution from the Government of Ontario will be from the two-year, $32.5 billion infrastructure commitment laid out in the 2009 provincial budget, Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future.

The construction of a new arts and cultural centre is part of a multi-phased revitalization of the Regent Park neighbourhood, and will help to improve cultural infrastructure while creating local jobs in Toronto. The new centre will include office space; a multi-purpose arts space to accommodate a wide variety of performances, festivals, celebrations and events; as well as space for not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations to lease studio or rehearsal space. Construction will begin in early 2010, with completion expected by March 2011.

To date, the Governments of Canada and Ontario have announced close to $11 billion in joint funding for more than 2,600 infrastructure projects across the province to stimulate the economy and create jobs.

Senior Member

That's a nice set of slides. If I compare two slides (28 and 32), it looks like the Arts & Cultural Centre would form the base of a highrise. I wonder if that is still the plan, or if the building would be a standalone.